Coin dispenser



'Sept. 2, 1958 P. J. BECKER, JR

COIN DISPENSER Filed Sept. 26, 1955 Philip .1. Becker, Jr.-

IN VEN TOR. BY W406.

Wyn/4y Em United States Patent COIN DISPENSER Philip J. Becker, In, Grand View, Wash, assignor of onefifth to Clifford D. Wycofi, Grand View, Wash.

Application September 26, 1955, Serial No. 536,690

2 Claims. (Cl. 133-6) The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in dispensers for coins particularly for parking meter use, and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, novel means for holding a supply of coins of the desired denominations conveniently at hand on the steering column of an automobile.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a coin dispenser of the aforementioned character which will deliver the coins one at a time as they are desired.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a coin dispenser of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use, compact, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a coin dispenser constructed in accordance with the present inventionmounted for operation on the steering column of an automobile;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the device, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the device, showing the steering column in cross-section.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a substantially flat body 5 of the shape shown, which body may be of any suitable dimensions and material. Secured at 6 on one end of the body 5 is a bracket 7. The bracket 7 includes a clamp 8 for mounting the dispenser on the steering column 9 of a motor vehicle 10.

The body 5 has formed vertically therein a pair of adjacent pockets 11 and 12, said pockets being cylindrical and open at the upper ends thereof. The pockets 11 and 12 are for the reception of stacks of coins 13 and 14 of the desired denominations. provided in the pockets 11 and 12 for yieldingly urging the coins 13 and 14 upwardly in said pockets.

A coin delivery cover in the form of a disk 16 for the pockets 11 and 12 is rotatably secured by a bolt or screw 17 on top of the body 5. The cover 16 has formed in its periphery a substantially U-shaped opening or recess 18 to be brought into registry with the desired pocket 11 or 12. Projecting radially from the cover 16 is an operating handle 19. Secured by the bolt 17 on the cover 16 is a metallic stop disk or plate 20 which projects over the recess or opening 18.

It is thought that the operation of the device will be Coil springs 15 are 2,850,024 Patented Sept. 2, 1958 readily apparent from a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the pockets 11 and 12 are loaded by bringing the recess.18 of the rotary cover 16 into alignment or registry with said pockets. Of course, the pockets 11 and 12 are of a diameter to receive the desired coins 13 and 14. The stacks or columns of coins 13 and 14 are yieldingly urged upwardly at all times beneath the rotary cover 16 by the coil springs 15. With the cover 16 in intermediate or neutral position as seen in Figure 4 of the drawing, the pockets 11 and 12 are closed thereby and the coins are retained against the tension of the springs 15. If a coin 14, for instance, is desired, the cover 16 is rotated clockwise through the medium of the handle 19 for bringing the delivery recess 18 into alignment with the'pocket 12. When this is done, the stack of coins 14 is immediately elevated for positioning the uppermost thereof in the recess 18. The disk or plate 20 functions as a stop for the coins. The thick aess of the cover 16 is such as to prevent more than one coin from completely leaving its pocket and entering the recess 18. That is, the thickness of the cover 16 is less than the combined thicknessesof any two coins. The cover 16 is then rotated counterclockwise to its intermediate or neutral position, carrying with it the uppermost coin 14. This coin may now readily be slipped out of the recess 18 for use. If a coin 13 is desired from the pocket 11, the cover 16 is rotated counterclockwise from its intermediate or neutral position to align the recess 18 with said pocket 11. With the uppermost coin 13 engaged in the recess 18, the cover 16 is returned to its intermediate or neutral position, and the coin 13 is removed.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A coin holder and dispenser comprising a body having ciroumferentially spaced recesses providing individual coin holding and dispensing pockets, said pockets being closed at their sides and at their lower ends and having their opposite upper ends opening through a flat upper surface of said body, a coil spring located in each pocket and bearing upon the bottom of the pocket, coins removably located in their respective pockets and accessible for removal by way of the open upper ends of the respective pockets, at stop and assembling disc bolted centrally and removably atop the fiat upper surface of the body, said disc being of a predetermined diameter and having outer segmental marginal edge portions overlying predetermined limited portions of said pockets adjacent the centrally boltedportion of the disc and corresponding limited portions of the coins which are located in said pockets, a flat cover mounted centrally for rotation on the disc-retaining bolt and interposed between the disc and upper flat surface of said body, a substantially U- shaped opening in the cover and extending inwardly from the marginal edge thereof and being greater than but comparable with the diameter of the open end of each pocket so that it is possible to selectively align the U- a shaped opening with either one of the pockets and to, in

this manner, adequately uncover the coins in the chosen pocket for access and removal, said cover having a coplanar handle on its outer marginal edge portion which radiates from and projects beyond the margin of the body for accessible operation, said cover being substantially circular in plan and of a diameter appreciably greater than the diameter of said disk, and said cover being of a thickness greater than the thickness of one coin but less than the thickness of two coins stacked atop one another to prevent more than one coin at a time leaving its pocket and entering the U-shaped dispensing opening, and the predetermined restricted diameter of said disk being such that it covers the inner crotch portion only of the dispensing opening, whereby not to interfere with the users finger in accessibly sliding the selected coin to a position of easy removal.

2. A coin holder and dispenser comprising a body having circumferentially spaced recesses providing individual coin holding and dispensing pockets, said pockets being closed at their sides and lower ends and having their opposite upper ends opening through a fiat upper surface of said body, a coil spring located in each pocket and bearing upon'the bottom of the pocket, coins removably located in their respective pockets and accessible for removal by way of the open upper ends of therespective pockets, a stop and assembling disc bolted centrally and removably atop the flat upper surface of the body, said disc being of a predetermined diameter and having outer segmental marginal edge portions overlying predetermined limited portions of said pockets adjacent the centrally bolted portion of the disc and the coins which are located in said pockets, a flat cover mounted centrally for rotation on the disc-retaining bolt and interposed be- '4 tween the disc and upper flat surface of said body, a substantially U-shaped opening formed in the cover and having an outer end opening through a portion of the marginal edge of said cover, the Width of said U-shaped opening being greater than but comparable with the diameter of the open end of each pocket so that it is possible to selectively align the U-shaped opening with either one of the pockets and to in this manner adequately uncover the coins in the chosen pocket for access and removal, said cover having a coplanar handle on its outer marginal edge portion which radiates from and projects beyond the margin of the body for accessible operation, and attaching and supporting means comprising a bracket connected with said body and including a clamp, said clamp being adapted to adjustably and removably mount the body on the steering column of a motor vehicle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,350,980 Stone Aug. 24, 1920 2,539,648 Wink Jan. 30, 1951 2,553,904 Eslick May 22, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 274,801 Italy June 3, 1930 

